After the initial returns Tuesday, supporters of the school operating referendum could see a pattern developing: resounding defeat.

Wednesday, November 07, 2001

After the initial returns Tuesday, supporters of the school operating referendum could see a pattern developing: resounding defeat.

As the final precincts reported their results, members of the administration and school board resigned themselves to a clear message from the voters. The district’s request for $358 in per-student funding over 10 years was denied by a 60-40 margin. With quiet voices and resigned expressions, the architects of the referendum accepted the results.

&uot;The people of this district have told us what they want,&uot; said school board member Ken Petersen. &uot;This is going to mean some very deep cuts that will affect every child in the system.&uot;

Others on the board echoed Petersen.

&uot;I’m disappointed in the community, I really am. We didn’t come to the people with a set of fictitious needs. People are going to lose their jobs and kids will suffer,&uot; Bill Leland said.

&uot;I think we all need some time to decompress,&uot; board chair Carol Haun told her colleagues. &uot;It’s a disappointment. This process is not going to be easy, but we all have to keep a positive outlook.&uot;

Turnout was high for the referendum vote – almost 53 percent – as the measure was defeated in all six precincts. The Brookside Education Center polls reflected the closest margin with 55 percent voting no. In Hollandale, which had the largest margin, 74 percent of the voters denied the district’s request.

&uot;What can you do?&uot; asked Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea, who supported the referendum. &uot;This is a surprise to me. I thought it had a better chance of passing.&uot;

Halverson Principal Del Stein said his thoughts went to his staff and students when he heard the results.

&uot;This is a blow to our schools. I can’t help but think about the people in my building who are going to feel the effects of this vote,&uot; he said.

The measure was defeated because school supporters didn’t get to the polls to the degree necessary, said Superintendent Dr. David Prescott.

&uot;I think if more of the &uot;yes&uot; vote had come out for this, it could have passed. I think supporters are out there, but they just didn’t respond to the efforts to rally them,&uot; he said.

Prescott said volunteers of the Kids II Committee placed calls to each of the 6,000 parents in the school district, urging them to vote for the funding increase. An informal poll indicated strong support.

&uot;I expected, with that kind of support among our parents, the referendum had a good chance,&uot; he said.

Prescott said the cuts looming on the horizon for next year will most certainly eliminate some programs completely. Though the board has not made any budget decisions in the hope of a successful referendum, the district will swiftly move into cutting mode again.

&uot;We’re the lowest spending district in the conference and we’ve been cutting for 10 years. If that is still the expectation of the people in this district, then we will do what we have to do,&uot; he said.